Flamengo takes lead in Brazil with one round left

SAO PAULO (AP) -- Flamengo defeated Corinthians 2-0 Sunday to overtake defending champion Sao Paulo for the Brazilian league lead with one round of matches to go.

Midfielder Ze Roberto and defender Leo Moura scored in each half to put Flamengo in position to win its sixth title - and first since 1992.

Brazil's most popular club, Flamengo has 64 points, two more than Internacional, Palmeiras and Sao Paulo, which led the competition entering the round but slipped to fourth after a 4-2 loss to Goias.

Internacional kept its title hopes alive by beating Sport 2-1, while Palmeiras remained in the chase after a 3-1 victory over Atletico Mineiro in which playmaker Diego Souza scored from midfield.

Internacional leads the tiebreaker among the three teams because it has more victories, while Palmeiras edges Sao Paulo on goal difference.

Fluminense left the relegation zone for the first time in 28 matches with a 4-0 rout of Vitoria, leaving rival Botafogo in danger of relegation after a 2-0 loss to Atletico Paranaense.

In Flamengo's match against Corinthians, a fan invaded the field in second-half stoppage time and was confronted by one of the linesmen. The two exchanged punches and kicks until police intervened to get the fan away.

Flamengo took the lead for the first time with the win against Corinthians in Campinas. The traditional Rio de Janeiro club will secure the coveted title if it beats Gremio at Maracana next week.

The victory on Sunday came despite the absence of star striker Adriano, who burned his foot in a household accident.

Former Schalke midfielder Ze Roberto scored from inside the area in the 26th, while Moura sealed the victory with a controversial penalty in injury time.

Corinthians, out of contention for the title, played a man down from the 68th after defender Chicao was dismissed for a bad foul. It also played without striker Ronaldo from the 25th because of a muscle injury.

The team played with a jersey filled with small photos from supporters who paid to have their images stamped.

Sao Paulo, trying to win its fourth straight title and seventh overall, lost its lead after the defeat to Goias at Serra Dourada stadium in Goiania. It was the team's second loss in a row.

Striker Washington scored for Sao Paulo in the 15th and 70th, while Goias - which hadn't beaten Sao Paulo in four years - got on the board with Vitor in the 21st, Rithelly in the 37th, Fernandao in the 66th and Leo Lima in the 71st.

Internacional, whose last title was in 1979, moved from fourth to second in the 20-team standings by coming from behind to beat already relegated Sport 2-1 in Recife. Midfielder Andrezinho scored the winner in the 83rd.

Palmeiras' victory against sixth-place Atletico Mineiro at Palestra Italia stadium was marked by a stunning goal by playmaker Diego Souza, who scored from just in front of the midfield line.

After Atletico Mineiro Uruguayan goalkeeper Fabian Carini left his box to clear a breakaway, the ball went directly into Souza's direction and the midfielder struck a firm one-timer straight into the net.

Atletico Mineiro got on the board with Diego Tardelli, one of the competition's leading scorers with 19 goals along with Flamengo's Adriano.

Fifth-place Cruzeiro defeated Coritiba 4-1 in Curitiba and remains with a chance to earn one of the four spots available for the Copa Libertadores next year.

At the bottom of the standings, Fluminense left the relegation zone with the 4-0 win over Vitoria at Maracana stadium. Argentine midfielder Dario Conca scored two goals and former Lyon striker Fred added another for Fluminense.

Nautico was relegated after a 5-3 loss to Santo Andre in Santo Andre, joining Sport as the two teams going down so far. Botafogo, Santo Andre and Coritiba remain in danger.

The second division ended on Saturday with four-time national champion Vasco da Gama promoted to the top flight along with 1978 champion Guarani, Ceara and Atletico Goianiense. The four teams relegated to the third tier were Fortaleza, Campinense, ABC and Juventude, the 1999 Brazilian Cup winner.

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.